In Flower This Week

The Gardens are so colourful with the spring array of flowers. Waratahs,
in particular, reveal their red flower heads in many areas and Telopea
speciosissima `Doug's Hybrid' at the main gates is no exception.
Enjoy the plants in pots outside the Visitor Centre. Pimelea spectabilis
is a small plant with large flower heads coloured white with a dash of
pink. Boronia `Tyalge Ruby' is laden with pink buds opening
to dainty pink and white flowers.

As the Rockery is so colourful this walk will concentrate on some flowers
in that section. The plants here have been selected because of their specialised
soil requirements and mostly because they are small. At the base of the
stairs Telopea speciosissima `Wirrimbirra White' [Section
15D] is of medium size and bears many large white globular flower heads.
Grevillea `Poorinda Royal Mantle' [Section 15] is seen cascading
down the rock face, with deep red toothbrush-like flowers mingling with
the dark green foliage.

On the top road, Telopea speciosissima `Corroboree' [Section
15J] is quite stunning with its many almost scarlet coloured flower heads.
Other `treasures' along this road include Dampiera rosmarinifolia
[Section 15H] which appears to be an entanglement of branches but beautified
with its particular shade of purple flowers. The tiny Baeckea ramosissima
`Pink Gem' [Section 15H] is clad with minute pink flowers, and Lechenaultia
biloba [Section 15H] with pale blue flowers. But who could not
admire Hypocalymma angustifolium [Section 15H]. This neat,
rounded shrub is laden with tiny soft and fluffy, pinky-white flower balls
along the arching branches ... really lovely.